Mailing machine



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MAILING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10. 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented May 18, 1954 HCE MAILING MACHINE William W. McCain,

Oak Park, and Chester E.

Hillman, Park Ridge, Ill.; said Hillman assignor to said McCain 26 Claims.

l This invention relates to label afxing machines, and particularly to such machines adapted to function as mailing machines.

In the preparation of mailing pieces and particularly in the mailing of magazines, it is customary to prepare mailing strips which include a succession of printed addresses at spaced points along the length oi such mailing strips, and these mailing strips are subsequently divided into labels that are alxed to the mailing pieces such as magazines. ln accordance with prior practice, such labels have been aflixed to the mailing pieces at a relatively slow rate, and in such a way that label aiixing machines require irequent cleaning and readjustment. This, of course, involves substantial delay in the mailing operations and is thus objectionable and quite expensive. ln prior machines used for amxing labels to mailing pieces, the operation has been such that most oi the stoppages oi the machine have occurred in such a way as to cause spoiling of several of the labels, and this, of course, necessitates the hand-addressing of mailing pieces to correspond with the labels that have thus been spoiled. This causes additional delay and expense, and is considered to be highly objectionable.

In View of the foregoing, it is the primary object of the present invention to simpliiy mailing and like operations so that the afxing of the mailing labels or the like may be carried on at an extremely rapid rate and in a way such that substantially continuous operation may be attained. More specifically, it is an object oi the present invention to enable mailing labels and the like to be affixed in accurately located positions, this being particularly desirable in the labeling of magazines where the outside cover illustration is subject to disiigurernent by improper location oi the mailing label thereon.

In the afhxing of mailing labels to magazines and the like, it has heretofore been round that objectionable scratching or marring of the cover of the magazine often results, and it is a further object of the present invention to enable mailing labels to be affixed to magazines and the like in such a way that the cover of the magazine is not marred or otherwise damaged. Another and related object is to enable this result to be attained at an extremely high production rate.

Where magazines or the like are to be labeled at a relatively high production rate, it is necessary that the individual articles be separated and moved through the apparatus at a high rate of speed, after which the speed of movement of the articles must be gradually reduced at the delivery end of the machine, and it is a further object of the present invention to simplify and facilitate the handling and movement of the magazines or the like and to accomplish this in such a way that each individual article is under complete and accurate control at all times during this movement, thereby to enable accuracy oi label position to be maintained and at the same time to enable injury or damage to the magazines to be avoided.

In prior mailing or labeling machines of which we are aware, it has been the practice to accomplish the label aiiixing operation while the magazine or the like is position in the machine, and this, ci course, has resulted in an arrangement where it has been necessary to start and stop the movements of the magazines or the like at an intermediate point in the machine, and it is a further and important object or the present invention to enable the label aiiixing operation to take place while both the magazine and the label are moving through the machine at an extremely high rate or" speed. Further and related objects of the present invention are to enable the mailing strip and each successive label as it is severed from such mailing strip to be accurately controlled as to position and speed of movement, and to enable the moving mailing strip and the severed label to be accurately coordinated with the movements of the magazines. Further objects are to enable labels to be affixed to magazines or the like by controlled application of the label to a previously applied glue spot or area on each magazine, and to enable such glue spot or area to be accurately applied in the desired location on each magazine while the magazine is moving at a high rate of speed through the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to afford a mailing machine that is fully rotary in character and which is so constructed and arranged that the feeding of two mailing pieces or magazines at one time does not in any way interfere with the operation of the machine.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent irom the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principle thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as deheld in a stationary or rest sired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2, when taken together and in succession from left to right, constitute a side elevational view of a mailing machine embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2A is a face view of a magazine-with a mailing label secured thereon;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken partiallyf in vertical section and illustrating a portion of the machine shown in Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary view'taken partially. in vertical section and showing urtheidetaiils' of the label severing and applying means that are illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. eA is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the line 11A-GA of Fig. 4;,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 4, the View being taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a face view or a portion of the mailing strip that may be severed into labels and applied to magazines in the machine of the present invention;

Fig. 6A is a View of the reverse side of the mailing strip shown in Fig. 6, the mailing strip as shown in Fig. 6A having the transverse severance slots formed therein, and the left-hand or leading label having been separated from the remainder or right-hand portion of the strip.;

Fig. 6B is a fragmentary perspective view showing the relationship of the mailing strip, the leading orsevered label, and the magazine to which such label is to be aixed;

Fig. 6C is a'fragmentary elevational View of the labellin its aiixedposition on a magazine;

Fig. 7 is a Vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 'lof Fig. 4 and showing further details of the label-separating and applying rolls;

Fig. 8 is a View showingiurther details-of the slot forming' or cutting mechanism which Yconditions the mailing strip for the separation-ofthe individual labels therefrom;

Fig.-9vis an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along 'the `line'il-S of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1G is a fragmentaryview of a portion of a mailing strip illustrating-the details-of the transverse slot that is cut in the mailing strip by the mechanism of Figs. 8 and -9';

Figs. 11A, 11B vand--llCare diagrammatic views illustrating the progress of the magazine, the

mailing strip and the severed-label in the course or" a label alxing-operation;

Fig. l2 is a' view of the discharge end portion of the delivery conveyor system;

Fig-13 isa view oigan-intermediate portion of the delivery conveyor system;

Figs. 14 and 15Lare views showing thegearing connections that are embodied inr the machine;v

' Fig. 16 is aside elevational view of the suction feeder utilized in the machine;

Fig. 17 is a schematic timingdiagram; Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 11A and showing. an alternative construction; and

Fig. 19 is a view similarto Fig. 7 and showing another alternative construction.

The machine in general Figs. 1 and 2, and in this machine a succession of magazines M of relatively large size, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2A, are fed in succession through the machine, and while the magazines are in motion at a rapid rate in the machine, individual mailing labels L are separated from a mailing strip s, Fig. 6, and are aixed to the respective magazines in aY location such as that illustrated in-Fig.=2A, themagazines Mthen being discharged from the machine on a delivery mechanism which returns the magazines to a stacked relationship convenient for further handling.

The' mailing machine 2U' as herein shown is constructed so asttolbe sectional in form in that thedelive'ry. mechanism is arranged for direct door 'mounting inassociation with the main frame of -the label applying mechanism. Thus, as shown in Figs. land 2, the main unit of the machine has a floor-mounted base B upon which a pair of side frames ZIL and 21R are mounted. and to theleft'of these side-frames, a magazine feeding and separating mechanism 22, including a supply hopper K. ismounted. The feeding and separating mechanism-22 has side frames 22L and 22R that are mounted on the frames 2|L and 2| R in a bracket-like relationship, and thel supply magazine K extends to the leftfrom the feeding and separating-.unit22 and is supported at its left-hand end by a pair of upstanding columns 23 that are connected at their lower ends to the base B.

At the right-hand end of-- the base B, the machine has a horizontal delivery-section25that extends for some distance to the right and which; is arranged to feed the labeled magazine M to anelevating conveyor mechanism 26 which then dis-` machine are driven, as Willhereinafter' be de#- scribed.

The magazines M that are supplied to the sup,-v

plyhopper K are separated oneby one from the stack in thehopper K, and are-fed with the bound edge of the magazine inia leading relation into position between a pair of driven feed rollers 35T) and 35L-that are located adjacent to the output end of the hopper K, and the magazine Misadvanced by these feed rollers-in' substantially horizontal plane and along a Aseries of laterally spaced horizontalvsupporting rails 36', and the progress of 'the magazine along the :rails 36 is maintained at a relatively high rate-by a first set' of feedy rollers''lU andl3'iL, the lower Yone or which is positively` driven, and from this set of feed rollers, the-magazinelis discharged'into position between a pair of feedrollersSBU and SSL, both of which are driven;y The magazine Mfis then discharged into position on the periphery. of a rapidly rotating and relatively 'large carrier drum'e, andeis accurately located'on .the drum in a circumferential sense 'by'engagementlof .thetleading edge cr the magazine'with atransverse line of laterally spaced locating.y lugs of the drum.V Asshown in =the timing diagram of Fig; 17, theleadingfor. boundedge of the magazine M. is forced-against; the lugs lllA by being 4l fixed on the periphery..

driven at a speed that is somewhat greater than the surface speed of the drum d, and after the accurate registry has been assured by the resulting buckling of the magazine M against the lugs 4I, the magazine M is clamped in position on the drum by a plurality of clamping belts 4t2 that are disposed in positions between the several lugs 4|, and which extend about a relatively large arcuate portion of the drum iii. The magazines M move onto the drum d at substantially the upper point of the drum, and at this point, the belts t2 come into position over and about their guide rollers so as to hold the magazine M in position against t .e drum. The belts t2 extend downwardly along the surface of the drum for somewhat over 90 degrees, and it is within this arcuate zone that the label afiixing operations are performed.

The mechanisms involved in such label affixing operations may vary, of course, with the characteristics of the label strip that is being handled, and in this connection it should be pointed out that while the label strip may take the more common form without adhesive of any kind carried thereon, it may also be made with an adhesive back-coating and this adhesive may be of the common water-soluble kind or may be either a pressure adhesive or a heat-applied adhesive. The machine 2H as shown in Figs. i to 17 may be employed to aiiix labels of the common or plain f paper kind, or to afx labels that have a watersoluble adhesive back-coating, and by rendering one element of the machine inoperative or ineffective, the machine may be utilized to affix labels that carry a pressure adhesive back-coating. Finally, by affording a heat source at the label affixing station in the machine, the machine may be utilized for affixing labels carrying a heatapplied adhesive as a back-coating.

Before describing the specific way in which the belts i2 are mounted, and the way in which the drum le is mounted and driven, the other basic elements of the present machine will be described and located in a general way with respect to the drum 4B. Thus, it will be observed in Figs. l and 3 that soon after the magazine has been clamped in position on the drum se, the magazine is moved past a conditioning unit 55 which takes the form of a gluing unit 5G where common or plain paper labels are to be applied. It should be noted however that while the unit 58 is specifically described as a glue applying unit, it may serve as a moisture applying conditioning means where the label strip carries a water-soluble' adhesive back-coating.

Thus the gluing unit iii! includes a glue supply tank 5! and a rotatable gluing head 52 that has spot-gluing segments 53 thereon, the gluing head 52 being driven in timed relation to the drum 43 so that the surface speed of the arcuate glueapplying segments 53 is the same as the surface speed of the drum lill. This unit 5t is thus eifective to apply glue in a glue spot GS, Fig. 6B, to each magazine as the magazine is advancing rapidly in its clamped relationship with respect to the drum All, and in the further advancing movement of the magazine M, and while it is still clamped to the drum dil, the label L is applied to the glue spot GS that has been provided on the magazine M by the gluing unit 50. Thus, at substantially the level of the axis of the drum e0, and relatively close to the lower end of the clamping belt structure 42, label separating and affixing means are provided. The mailing strip S is conventionally provided in the form of a roll R, and a pair of mounting axles 55 are provided on a mounting bracket 55 whereby two rolls R of mailing strips may be mounted so that one roll is held in reserve to be started after a first roll has been exhausted. The mailing strip S is led over a roller 5l and then downwardly and about a guide roller 58, and then to the left and upwardly and about a guide roller 59 which is mounted as a part of the label feeding and separating unit Sii. This unit includes a feeding pin wheel Si about which the strip S is led from the guide roller 59, and the strip is then fed between a pair of feeding and slotting rolls t3 and .64, which will be described in some detail hereinafter. This set of rolls 63 and Se. serves to provide a weakened line of severance between adjacent labels L, and from these two rolls t3 and te, the strip is fed along a supporting shelf or table T beneath a pair of brush-like feeding members B5. These members 65 advance the strip to the left and into position to be grasped at the proper time in the cycle of the machine between a lower aifixing roller if! and an upper pressure roller 1i. The roller m includes a segmental gripping face 'Hill' which cooperates with the roller ii to positively grip the leading end portion of the strip S and to advance the same at a speed faster than the speed of the strip S, thereby to separate the label L that constitutes the leading end portion of thestrip from the balance of the strip, and after such separation, this leading label L is held in place on the gripping portion 'iF by suction, as will hereinafter be explained, and is pressed against the glue spot GS on the magazine M, so as to thereby be secured to the magazine. The magazine lVi then advances downwardly, and after it passes beyond the lower end of the clamping belts l2, the magazine is stripped from the drum lil and is discharged onto the horizontal conveyor section 25.

The sheet feeder 22 in most of its elements, the art, and, as herein shown, includes the feed rolls 35U and 351i. These feed rolls are supported between the end plates 22R and 22L that are parallel to the end plates 2IR and ELL, and these feed rolls are driven from the main drive gear 33. Thus, the main drive gear 33 is meshed with a relatively large transmitting gear se that is mounted in the main frame of the machine, and the drive for the elements of the sheet feeder 22 is taken from the gear 8B by means including a relatively small gear 8| that is mounted in the unit 22 on the outer face of the side frame iL, `as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. This gear 8i has a pinion 82 meshed therewith which is in turn meshed with a gear 83 that is adjustably fixed by bolt and slot connections Bi on the outer face of a hand wheel 85. This hand wheel 35 is fixediy mounted on a shaft 35S, and it is from the shaft 85S that drive is obtained for the feed rolls 35D and 35L. The feed roll SEL is afforded by two separate mutiliated disks that are spaced from each other and are carried on in dependent but aligned stub shafts |351, and drive is transmitted to the two shafts |35L by means of similar gears B5 fixed on the shaft 85S near opposite ends thereof. Thus each gear 86 is meshed with a corresponding gear 31 that is carried as an intermediate gear on a rocking frame S8 pivoted on the shaft 85S, two such rocking frames 88 being provided, and each gear '8l being meshed with a corresponding gear 89 on the shaft of the related feed roll 3'5L. This serves to drive the lower feed rolls or disks SSL in unison and in a counter-clockwise direction as The sheet feeder 22 is, old and well known in agevegvzisei viewed in Fig. 165 A similar' but' reverse.; driving f action is attained for 'the ffeed. roll 3 Ur'by 'means of a gear Sil-meshedfwith-.th'e gear-.83; van* inter' -v mediate or idler pinion SI andi-a gear`921ii`xed on the feed roll 35U." The `upper feed-roll 35U-is in the-present casedisposed on'a fixed axis, while ther lower feed roll 35]' 3`may be'forceddownward'h ly,` -in caser of Aa doublefeed. This ismade pos i sible bythe rocking frame 88l which is urgedupwardly or -in a counter-clockwise directionby a springV 88S Vacting on" an arm SSA that isrigid with the frame'SL- Such upward movement of the' roll '351. is adjustably-'limited by an adjust-1 able stop mechanism- 89S, Fig. -162 The gear S" is arrangedto drive a cam- 92'10- cated on the axis of the rollrSEL andfwhich-ccntrois; in part, the operation of the suction feeder,

as' will be described presently.- The'action ofthe Y' present feeder is dependent invpart upon the formation of notches 95 in kthe disks thatrform the lower feed roll SEL, thesenotches 95 cooperating with a plurality of rocking retaining arms 96A which are mounted on a rocking axis-V STA;-

ing space for the'rocking suction arms'il which move into the space between the independent or spaced'disks of the `feed roll 3513. The rocking movement for the retaining arms 96A is provided by-aY rocking frame 99A that is pivoted in the machine frame at IUA. This rocking structureV 99A is connected by an adjustable link IBIA to an arm 'IA that is clamped to the shaft '97A so as'to extenddownwardly therefrom, and the rocking structure 99A has a cam roller I3A thereon which engages checa-m92. A spring E04 Y urges this rocking structure 99A in a clockwise direction, thus to maintain the roller IIJ3A L against the camlil.` In the operation ofthe machine, theA retaining'armsrcA arev rocked in a... countereelockwise direction from the-position shown inF'ig. 16, into out-of-the-way positions so thatithe. suctionvarmsfl may withdraw amagazine M,.andafter such withdrawal,V `the arms 96A' returnto their effective or.retainingpositions..` The suction arms Siare. then rocked in a counter-v' clockwise direction by: means of an eccentric: strap pivoted, tothe arms $6 and encirclingan eccentric 99 fixed on the shaftfBES.

Thetsuctionarms et arethus-rocked soasto withdraw the :forward one-of the.magazines-M..V

toward. the bight betweenkthe feed rolls 35U and.

3515. ;In this movement, the timingfis such that` thevzlowerfedge of the magazine M ismoved into.

theinotch' Siinthe lower feed-roll 351'., andthe trailing .edget of thisnotch is thuseifective. to'v impartfafurther bending .action to the magazine M;.and;ther'magazine is thus forced intoengage-y ment with the lower edge of the; feedroll 35U.w

Thisacauses: the* magazine M. toV be gripped' be,-

tweenithetwo feed rolls so iasi tothereby. be pulled .l

forwardly 'at a rapid rate.

Thezhopper Klinl which the-magazines M are placed. is. formed so that side mailsv IIU. are pro-V vided,. and the. bottom of the magazine is af.A The magazines M rest' on the upper run of. thefeed chainsxl I I, andthe chains I il are actuated in a-.

fordedvby aplurality of .feed chains .III.

feedingdirectionin each operationof-lthez-feed..

mechanism lbyfmeans of lratchet mechanism I I IR that'is driven by means including `a linlc I IILzthat.

is` eccentrically. connected' to. the" shaft of fthe.

upper-.feed rollfBU. Thus :the forward or lead-.-

ing one-offthe'z magazines M the'hopper K rests at'itslower end on the feed chainsv III, and-its upper leading face rests against a transversesup-vl port bar I I2. Belowl the support bar I I2, a trans#- verse .roller IIS -is provided, and ythe bending action upon themagazines M takes place about the roller II3'.

and 35LL As the magazine' is gripped betweenthe feed' rol1s-35Uand 35L, it is drawn into' the opening between the lower guidev rails 36` and upper'or hold-downrails BSU, and the forward or advancing movement of the magazinevM by' the rolls 35U and 3'5L forces the leading or bound edge of 'the magazineM into the bight between `the feed rolls S'IU'and 3'IL.

The feed roll 3L'is mounted on a stationary axis between the frame plates 2IR and 2IL ofthe machina'and the upper feed roll 3`IU'is mounted between swinging arms II5 whichare urged vdownwardly by means including an adjustable spring element I G. The extent of downward movement of the roll- 3'IU may be limited the feed rolls 38U and 3BL, these feed rolls being l mounted on an adjustably settable carrieror mounting block 338 that may be set inl different positions along the'fee'd path so that the feed rolls 35i may beset to release the trailing. edge of a magazine at substantially the time when the leading edge thereof has been gripped between the drum and thel belts 42. The mounting.

block 338 is carried on the main frame of the machine'. The lower feed roll 381'. is mounted in the block 333 and .has a pinion I I3 xed thereon and meshed with a gear that is driven in I a manner to be described presently. The'upper feed roll BBUis mounted in a swinging -frame I2I that is pivoted at I2IP on thev block'338' and is urged downwardly by adjustable spring means i2 IS, and the extent of this downward movement may be limited byan adjustable stop 38S; The feed roll 38T] has apinion .23 thereon that is meshed witha gear |24 located on the axis I2 IP of the swinging frame i2I. An intermediate pinion I25 is. meshed'between the gears H8 and I 2t, thus to impart' the desired drive'to' the upper feed roll GSU.

The drive forthe feed. .rolls SBU and 381;. is taken from a gear Ilwith whichV thev gear |20 is meshed, and the gear 30 is meshed with the gear B' andis fixed to the drum 4B so. as to" serve as a drivingmeans for the drum'. The

in anyset position ofthe adjustable block 338.

As the magazines are discharged from Ythe feed rolls 33U .and 38L, they, movealong the lower guide rails ,3B and intopositionbeneathA a plurality of upperguidemails ISB. thata1'e.carried on amounting,H plate .-I3I` so astolextendto the This1rolle'r also simplifies thewithdrawing movement of the magazine from the hopper in that it facilitates downward withdraw' ing movement' of the leading magazineby `the'- suctionarms 96; as well as by'the vfeed rolls 35Uy a pinion II? being L and beingI right as shown in Fig. l5 between the locations of the clamping belts 42. The magazines are thus guided into position in the bight between the belts l2 and the drum Ml, and, as hereinabove pointed out, the timing is such that the leading edge of each magazine strikes a set oi lugs lli and is driven at a rate faster` than the lug di so as to be accurately engaged with these lugs prior to the time when the clamping action of the belts E becomes effective.

The belts 42 are so mounted as to be yieldingly urged at all times toward the periphery of the drum il in the arcuate working zone thereof, and these belts are driven in timed relation to the drum il@ as will be hereinafter described. Thus, it will be observed in Figs. l, lli and i5 that the effective or clamping runs of the belts il@ extend between sets of upper rolls i550 and lower rolls Edi. The outer or return run of the belt extends from the lower rolls lill about a set of idler rolls Il? and beneath a set of idler rolls M3, and then upwardly about a set o tensioning rolls ldd, the belts then extending downwardly and beneath the rolls lllll.

The lower rolls lfi are mounted on a frame 145 with a spring tensioned device ,litt urging these rolls radially toward the surface of the drum fill. rThis device includes a stop bolt which is threaded into the roll shaft so as to limit inward movement of the rolls iti to amount determined by the thickness of the magazines that are to be passed through the machine. A similar action is attained in respect to the rolls ill@ by supporting these rolls on a rocking frame itil that is pivoted at i659 on the axis of the rolls i133, and an adjustable spring tensioning device l5@ acts on the shaft ifi-S through an operating arm l5l so as to urge the rocking frame itt and the rolls ill toward the surface of the drum QQ. The normal spacing between the belts l2 and the drum il is determined by the thickness oi the magazines being labeled, and is governed by adjustable stops MGS. The plate is? and the upper guide bars ifii are carried on the shaft MS, so that the position of t e guide bars [35 is also governed by the setting of the stop MUS.

The tensioning rolls ills are mounted on a rocking structure V53 that is pivoted at 156 in the machine frame, as shown in Fig. 15, and tensioning springs E55 are effective on the rocking frame i533 to urge the rollers lilfe' in an upward or tensioning direction, thereby to maintain the belts i2 under the proper tension at all times. With this belts are eectually engaged with magazines of diiierent thicknesses so as to hold the same in their accurately indexed positions on the drum it during the passage of such magazines through the working zone of the machine. Moreover, the feeding of two magazines at a time will not disrupt operation of the machine.

The glue appli/'mg unit 50 The glue applying unit 5% has the glue supply mounted on one face of a vertical mounting plate itt which forms an integral part of the rear side frame f2-lL, and this supply tank is arn ranged to be heated through the provision of an elec al heating unit lli! in its lower or bottoni vvai the supply or glue that is contained therein, a fountain roll ifi?. is provided, and this fountain roll constantly rotated and is so located that it will be engaged by the glue segments 53 in each rotation of the glue applying head 52,

`ngernent, the clamping runs of the l Within the tank and running in iii) The glue tank 5I is constructed so as to be removable from the machine, and to this end is supported on the forward face of the wall |50 by means including screw fasteners 51S. The moving glue-handling and' applying parts, that is, the fountain roll 62 and the glue head 52, are also constructed as a removable unit. Thus, as shown in Figs. l, 3 and i4, the fountain roll 162 is xed on a shaft l63 which is mounted in a frame F that may be put in place on the forward side of the wall lll at the upper edge thereof. The projecting rear end of the mounting shaft itt is arranged for movement into a slot vH535 formed in the upper edge of the wall |653, and on the rear or opposite side of the wall |69 the shaft itt has a gear 184 fixed thereto. This gear lcd is meshed with a gear it that is mounted on the wall itl! and meshed with the gear |32) of the drum lill. The glue head 52 is driven from the gear ltd by gears IES and Nil that are meshed with each other, and the gear itt of which is meshed with the gear i544. The gear itl is mashed with a relatively large gear 68 that is fixed on the mounting shaft E59 of the glue head 52 so that the glue head 52 is rotated in positively timed relationship with the drum t. The gears itt and ll are mounted on shafts lES and if'lS respectively that are mounted in the frame F, and the shaft E69 which carries the glue head 52 is also mounted in the frame F. The frame F and all of the elements carried thereby may be pivoted about the axis of the shaft it. Thus, the glue head 52 may be moved away from the drum llc, as in the case of a double feed. The swinging frame F is, however, urged in a clockwise direction, Fig. 14, by a spring lll, such movement being limited by an adjustable stop V52 which determines the normal position of the glue head 52 in accordance with the thickness of the magazine that is to be labeled.

The head 52 as embodied in the present machine is square in its cross-sectional form, and has the glue-applying segments secured on parallel opposite faces thereof by means including can screws i'l. It is important, of course, to have the glue spot GS accurately located with respect to the leading edge of the magazine end, and to enable this to be accomplished, means are alforded for accurately adjusting the head 52 rotatably with respect to the shaft it. This is accomplished by affording a worm gear Elli that is keyed to the shaft itil, and a worm lll is mounted on the block or head 52 so as to be meshed with the work wheel ile. rlhus, by rotative adjustment of the worm lll, the head a2 may be accurately and readily adjusted in a rotative sense with respect to the shaft 169.

The feeding means for the strip S The timed feeding of the strip S is accomplished by means including the pin wheel Si which is positively driven from the gear |39 of the drum all, and it should be observed that the mailing strip S has perforations I8@ formed therein, as shown in Fig. 6, intermediate the adjacent portions that are to aiford the individual labels L. The pin wheel Si has a driving gear iBl nxed on its supporting shaft liS, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, this shaft being located on what may he termed the forward side of the vertical supporting plate iii. On the other' or rear side of the plate ISS, a drive connection is afforded for the pin wheel S l, as will be described in `some detail hereinafter. This drive includes a gear 32, and the gear |82 is in turn meshed witha gearllBB, the aXisof which is located-above ,shaftfor the pressure roll 1|.

...and midway between .theaxes of` the .feeding brushes 65, for purposesthat will appear hereinafter. A gear |852 is meshed with .the gear L43.

. andjthis gear is rotatably mounted on a stationaryshaft |85 that constitutesthe supporting It should be noted l -inthis regard that the roll ll, which isrubber y rotation on the forward outboard end ofthe T covered as shownin Fig. 7, is supported for free shaft |85 by means of a ball bearing .'HB.

, Between vthe gear 15.84 and the gear |38, a drive gear |86 is mounted, as shown in Fig. le, so that the gears |85, |84, |83 and |32 are driven from thedrum :it and in timed relation thereto.

.The gear ,|83 is located on what may be termed i therear face of the vertical standard or plate .alsocarries the gear i 83.

'I, and on the other or forwardside of this plate, a gear |92) is fixed to the shaft 29|, which The gear 96 is located aboveand is meshed with pinions IH53 that are .:ixedon the shafts let, which oarrythe feeding brushes 65, and hence, these feeding brushes are driven in the same direction at all timesand .at

.urged in an inward direction or i'posite sides of each perforation "condition the labels for quick and effectually engaged between the AThe slotting mechanism is shown in the saine 1 detail'in Figs. '7A and 9 ofthe drawings. Thus, the upper roll 63 is cylindrical in its, general form a, surface speed which is greater -than thesurface vspeed of the pin wheel 6|.

' The gear |83 is fixed on a shaft |95 that carries the Lipper slottingroll Btand on the forward side of the Vertical ,plate |55, a gear t is xedon the shaft |95. VVThis gear meshes with agear IST that is Xedon-the shaft ESS that carries the lowerslotting-roll so that the rolls 163and 64 are driven .in timed relation and in opposite directions. The gear i9? serves to drive the gear |8|, which isconnected to the pin wheel this being accomplished by an intermediate pinion '1| 99 thatis meshed with the gears l'|91 and'lBI.

"The gear |84 servesto drive the suction wheel ""I, and this suction :wheel .'i is sc mounted .that

itmay be resiliently pressed toward the adjacent face of thedrum 5S at all times. Thus, a supportingarmz is pivotedatits upper endl on the shaft V|85, as will be ,evident in Figs. 3, 4, 'Z and 14, and the suction `wheel 'E0 isvkeyed at 2M on the forward end ofthe shaft 2G72 that is rotatably `supportedjinthe lower portion of the arm 2&3 and in parallel relation to the shaft i85. The

shaft 232 has a gear 23 fixed thereon inarotatably adjustable relationship by means. including .clamp screws 284, and this gear ESS is meshed with the gear |84 so that the suction wheelil is driven in timed relation to the drum fifi.

`. The. lower end ofthe arm '29!! is constantly periphery of thedrum jby means of an expansion spring unit 265, vand such inward movement of the arm 209 and the suction roll 'Eil is governed by an adjustable stop mechanism 2i6 that iscarried on the machine frame and which lies 1in-thepath vof theilowerend'portion of the arm f. atsubstantially thelevel of the shaft 2:32.

The clotting means After the mailing strip S has left the pin wheel 6| it moves between the rolls 53 and 64, which embody a4 transverse slotting means that is effective to extend transverse slots Bit from opi30, thus to tion-'from the strip S when the leading label is rolls 'i0 and ll.

toward the s..

easy separas and hasa mounting recess.initsreariend .whereby itmay be fixed with the aid of a set screw 25| to the projectingforward end of the shaft l. Forwardly of the forward portion of .the shaft |55, the roll 63 is formed withA longitudinal slots 2 I2 therein, such slots being substantially dovetail in form so as to be relatively narrow at their outer edge and so as to be defined by relatively sharp corners where the sides -of the slot meet the peripheral surface of the roll B3. lIt should be observed that only one of the slots 2| 2 functions at any particular' time, the roll 83 being shown in the present instance with four slots disposed about the periphery of the roll at 90 degree spacing, thus enabling the roll to be reset on the shaft after any particular one of the slots 2|2 has become unduly .formed along the portion of its length. The roll S43 is cylindrical in -form and has a 'recess in 'its rear end whereby it may be secured with the aid of a set screw 2|l to the projecting end of the shaft |98.

The notch 2 i3 affords a mounting shoulder 2| 5 that is substantially radial in respect to the axis of the roll Gli, and against this shoulder 2|5 a clotting knife M5 is secured by means including cap screws 2H. The slotting knife 2| 6 has a pointed upper `edge shaped so that in the rotation of the rolls 63 and V'64 it may entery the cooperating slot 2 |2. In attaining the slotting action; the roll B is lprovided with a resilient holdinemember 2% in the form of a rubber plate which is clamped against the exposed or lefthand face of theknife 2|E by means of a clamping plate 22|. The function of the resiliein; clamping or holding element 226 is to afford a gripping action which presses the strip 'S against Vthe roll 63 at the leading edge of the slot 2|2. This causes the strip S to be tensioned across the slot 2li between the pin wheel 6| and the rub- The suction valve of the roll 70 As hereinabove pointed out, the separating action that is applied to the leading label L is effected by clamping the label between the rolls 1G and 1|, and practically as soon as this separating action takes place, suction is applied throughout the area of the raised portion 10F so as to hold the label in position as it advances toward the label afxing position. This suction is released progressively as the axing operation takes place, and the control of the suction is attained by .valve means that are located within the roll l0. Thus, as is best shown in Fig. 7 ofthe drawings, theroll 'It internally recessed from its outboard end so as to afford an internal centralhub lill-I and an outer rim MR. Within this recess and supported on the hub lill-I, a valve member 16V is provided, this valve member being held in a non-rotative relationship by means including a rigid suction pipe 225 that extends outwardly from the outer face of the valve member 10V, and in an eccentric location, as will be of Ythe drawings. The vsuction pipe 225 Viss-arranged to passthrough a slot 225 ing bolt 230 extends through the slot 229 so that by clamping the bolt 23d, the plate 221' may be secured in any desired position. This adjust-- ment of the plate 227 serves to adjust the rotative position of the valve member 'HBV within the rim TUR. The suction pipe 225 is connected by an internal bore 23S to an arcuate groove 232 that is formed in the upper left-hand portion or the valve member 13V, as will be evident i and 7. This slot 232 extends from a point that is located directly beneath the axis of the roller 1i, and tc the left and downwardly to a point just above the point of contact of the roller 1D with the magazine M. The raised portion F of the roller 'It has plurality of radial suction openings 235 former)` therein at spaced points throughout the entire area thereof, and with this arrangement, suction is applied to the openings 235 as these openings move into position over or opposite the right-hand end of the slot 232 as viewed in Fig. 4. Suction is applied to such openings until such openings pass beyond the lower or left-hand of the slot 232, thus to hold the label L in position on the raised portion 'WF while the label is moved into contact with the magazine M. After the label has been pressed against the magazine M so as to adhere to the glue spot GS, the label must, of course, be released from the portion lliF of the roller 10, and this is brought about through the provision of a relief passage 23S that is .formed in the valve body 19V so as to extend from a point just below the point of contact of the roll 10 with the magazine. The relief passage 235 extends in a counter-clockwise direction about the valve member to a point spaced slightly from the right-hand end of the slot 232. 1t will be noted that the relier" passage 235 extends to the forward or right-hand edge of the valve body, as viewed in Fig. 7, thus to connect the aligned passages 235 to atmosphere. The upper portions of the valve member 18V, that is, those portions on opposite sides of the slot 232, about the ends of the slot 232, are arranged to bear against the internal surface of the rim TGR, thus to aord the proper control for the suction that is applied through the suction pipe 225.

The timing of the Zabel separating and aimzng means It will be evident, of course, that the surface speed of the magazines M as they are moved through the label aixing position is much greater than the advancing speed of the mailing strip S, and in Figs. 11A, 11B and 11C, a diagrammatic showing is made of the way in which the label L is separated from the slowly advancing mailing strip and is 'thereafter advanced to label aiiixing position at an increased speed corresponding to the speed of movement of the magazine M. Thus, it will be evident that the roll 1D is driven at such a speed that it makes one revolution for each magazine M that passes the label aixing position, and the cutoff rolls 63 and 6d are driven in a one to one relationship with respect to the roll lil. When the mailing strip S moves from the pin wheel El and through the slotting rolls S3 and Sli, the slot 2l is formed so as to extend in opposite directions from the perforation |80, and this leaves relatively narrow webs 2|0W adjacent to the opposite edges of the strip S. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 17, this slotting operation takes place only after the leading label L has been separated from the strip S, so that there is never more than one slot ZID present in the strip S at any time, and this enables the pin wheel 6I to serve as a holding or enclosing means for holding the second label while the leading label is separated therefrom. Independent holding means may, of course, be provided for holding the second label during the separating operation as will hereinafter be described in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 18.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 17, the single slot 2i!! forms the only possible point of separation when the leading label L is grasped by the rolls l0 and 1|. In attaining this advantageous operation in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 17, it is important that the distance between the bight of the rolls 1G and 1I and the bight of the rolls 63 and 64 be somewhat less than twice the length of the labels L. Thus, when the label L that is ahead of the previously formed slot 210 is passed between the rolls 1l) and 1| and its speed of movement is increased rapidly, the

webs 2 I 0W at the ends of the slot 2 i D are broken, as indicated at the left-hand portion of Fig. 6A oi the drawings.

The clamping action between the rolls 'l0 and 'H takes place when the forward edge of the raised portion 10F comes into position where it forces the leading edge of the strip S against the resilient covering of the roll 1i. Almost immediately after such clamping of the strip S between the rolls 'l0 and 1l, with the resultant breaking of the leading label L from the strip S, suction is applied to the leading ones of the openings 235, and hence, the label is held against the projecting portion iilF and travels with the roll 10, as shown in Fig. 11B of the drawings. As this travel continues, the label is progressively forced against the glue spot GS, and below the line of contact between the roll 'lil and the magazine, suction on the label is relieved so that the label L travels on with the magazine and in its properly aiiixed relationship.

The delivery conveyor system After the label aiiixing operation has thus been completed, the magazine M continues its downward movement throughout the range of the clamping action of the belts :12, and at substantially the level of the lower pulleys Ml the magazine moves into contact with arcuate stripper members 250 which are disposed below the pulleys la! so as to ride in circumferential slots 251 that are provided on opposite sides of certain of the belts 42, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 14. These stripper members 250 direct the leading edge of the magazine away from the surface of the drum 4t, and into a feed roller mechanism which deposits the magazine on the horizontal delivery conveyor 25. The horizontal delivery conveyor 25 is of the chain type having a drive sprocket 255, and this drive sprocket is driven from the gear i3d. Thus, a gear 253 is meshed with the gear i3() and serves to drive a pinion 251. rlhis pinion engages a gear 258 that forms on element of a closed gear, the other gear 259 of which is meshed with a gear 266 that is ixed on the axis of the sprocket 255 in a driving re1ationship.

The gear Zt also serves to drive the feed roll mechanism by which the magazines M are transferred from the strippers 25B to the delivery con- 

